Pensioner fractures shoulder in Upper Norwood pothole horror

A pensioner who fractured her shoulder after falling in a pothole has criticised Croydon Council for not carrying out repairs.

Sylvia Jennings was walking home from shopping, when she tripped on the footpath outside the entrance to Westow Park in Upper Norwood.

The 73-year-old fractured her shoulder in the fall and spent two weeks in hospital. She is now undergoing physiotherapy to help regain full use of her arm.

After noticing the potholes hadn't been filled, Mrs Jennings became concerned for other elderly residents in the area and contacted her ward councillor.

She said: "There are a hell of a lot of pot holes from where the electric and telephone people have dug up the ground. They have never been covered up and I am worried for the people using the
pavement.

"There are a lot of older people living in the area who walk with walking sticks, so I contacted my councillor because it is absolutely disgusting the holes haven't been filled."

Cllr Wayne Lawlor said: "The state of the path in Westow Park and on the footpath outside the park are completely unacceptable. I wish Ms Jennings a speedy recovery, but I am deeply concerned this
is not an isolated incident. I wonder how many more people have injured themselves?"

A spokeswoman for Croydon Council said:"We were notified of an incident outside the park on Church Road and we put in a repair request to our contractor, Interserve following this.

"Today (Tuesday), an estimate was received from them for the work to be carried out. We will see that repairs go ahead as soon as possible."